Seconding kookoobirdz-- I had this problem for a while and a little lube in the condom was a big help. You want water based lube, since oil based can weaken the condom. You also want to make sure the brand you're using isn't too tight, since that will reduce the friction you need to get off. I like the Trojan Twisted Pleasure ones, but YMMV. After you finish, be sure to hold the bottom of the condom as you pull out, since all that slippery looseness will make it more likely to slip off as... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by InfidelZombie at 1:00 PM on July 16, 2008

I have a friend who did this for a while, and she just responded to an ad in the back of the LA Weekly.
posted to Ask Metafilter by InfidelZombie at 2:44 PM on June 11, 2008

I have nothing on your first question, but the father of Eddie Murphy's love interest in Coming To America rana restaurant called McDougal's (I think) that was exactly like McDonald's.

No spumoni?! Heathens.
posted to Ask Metafilter by InfidelZombie at 8:23 AM on May 12, 2008

Maybe you could make a trip to the music store together part of the gift. Have the salesperson bring over all their models that fit your criteria (dark tone, heavy strings, under $1000 etc.) for him to try out. He plays each, but can't look at the price tag. He makes the selection, you pay for it, everybody's happy.
posted to Ask Metafilter by InfidelZombie at 1:06 PM on May 1, 2008

I'd use the strap button on the bottom end of the guitar as one support point, and the lower side of the neck as the other. That way you can put the low end in a stud, then pick a point along the neck that gives you the angle you want and hits a stud.

What you use to support the guitar will vary depending on how thick it is, maybe a big nail for a thin electric but some sort of hooks for an acoustic. You should be able to find something decorative at the hardware store.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by InfidelZombie at 10:32 AM on April 5, 2008

Gibson ships its guitars with .10s, I've played .11s on my Les Pauls with no problems.

Don't use WD-40 on the pots, it will leave an oily residue. You want electrical contact cleaner, which you can find at any hardware store.
posted to Ask Metafilter by InfidelZombie at 10:18 AM on March 13, 2008

There should be a common data field in your Census data and the boundary file, most likely the census tract number. Do a JOIN on the two tables using the common field, which will append the census data to the boundary file table.
posted to Ask Metafilter by InfidelZombie at 4:00 PM on March 6, 2008 marked best answer

Refurbished items are usually a good deal, most online places will give you the same warranty on them so you can return it if there's a major problem. The more expensive Dots have a maple top in addition to the binding and other cosmetic additions, that will give you a brighter tone overall.

Actually, a semi-hollow might be a good choice for you as a starter guitar. That way you can work with it as an acoustic also, so you don't always need to be plugged in when you... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by InfidelZombie at 10:02 AM on February 14, 2008

The guitar volume is an interesting control in itself. For most of its range it raises volume like you'd expect, but at the high end you get less volume increase and more saturation in the signal (a dirtier sound.) This effect is more pronounced the more overdriven your amp is, and shows more with humbucker pickups than with the single coils on your strat. But often if you play with a lot of distortion you'll hit full volume at about 3 or 4, from that point on the signal gets more distorted... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by InfidelZombie at 2:01 PM on February 22, 2008

The bass player in my band is constantly messing with his amp setup, so I've heard him through 2x10's, 4x10's, 1x15's, and various combinations of the three. I like his tone better when he has 10's in the mix, it is tighter and cuts through great. However, you lose that feeling you get in the chest when the bass really hits you. That doesn't seem to come unless you're running at least 1 15" speaker.
posted to Ask Metafilter by InfidelZombie at 2:15 PM on February 13, 2008

I have also read the series several times, there's a lot there that you only pick up on the second or third reading. Don't rush to get your answers, a patient search will be rewarded.

I'd also reccomend The Urth Of The New Sun, which covers Severian's life after the end of the 4th book and sheds new light on the story of the Conciliator and the Claw.
posted to Ask Metafilter by InfidelZombie at 9:03 PM on January 27, 2008

Guitar Geek has the rig he used in Shellac, though no pointers on how to get a particular sound.
posted to Ask Metafilter by InfidelZombie at 12:51 PM on January 25, 2008

Those are both decently made import guitars with set necks, carved tops, and two humbuckers-- haven't heard anything bad about them. Either one will be able to get the tones you're looking for. The best way to choose will be to play both, and buy the one that feels and sounds best to you.
posted to Ask Metafilter by InfidelZombie at 10:25 AM on January 15, 2008 marked best answer

One other thing-- play more than one of the model you decide on. Quality can vary a lot from guitar to guitar, you want to get the best of what the store has in stock. Play them unplugged for at least a little bit, and go with the loudest one. More resonance = better construction.
posted to Ask Metafilter by InfidelZombie at 10:30 AM on January 15, 2008 marked best answer

The secondary purpose of a primary to is judge how a candidate might do in the general election. In that sense, Clinton won because she got a higher percentage of the vote, and it was just following a loss in Iowa where she was expected to do better.

What if every primary ended like that? If the final delegate count was tied, but one candidate won most of the popular votes in all of them, that candidate would be the obvious choice at the convention.
posted to Ask Metafilter by InfidelZombie at 9:34 AM on January 10, 2008 marked best answer

limeonaire-- it's not a survey based on a random sample, it's an actual count of all the ballots submitted. If I have 100 people in a room and ask them all their opinion on something, that's different than asking 30 of them and determining via statistics what the other 70 likely think. Margin of error and significance don't apply in this case.
posted to Ask Metafilter by InfidelZombie at 11:09 AM on January 10, 2008

I'd ask them to do the web searching and give you some images they like you can use. Right now they're just dumping all their thoughts on you, that would force them to focus a little bit. Just tell them that you're no good at drawing, but if they find the pieces online you'll try and stitch them together.

Friends tend to be more difficult to work with than paying clients, because it isn't going to cost them anything to give vague instructions and make a million changes.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by InfidelZombie at 1:02 PM on January 9, 2008

I think it depends on what trends are in music at a given time. For instance, Kramer made some guitars with aluminum necks in the 70's and 80's, and at the same time you had comapnies like BC Rich and Jackson making more radical designs, and experimenting with different types of electronics. That's also the time period when things like the Parker Fly and Steinberger guitars were introduced, Roland developed guitar synth technology, large rack systems with complex effects were all the rage, etc.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by InfidelZombie at 1:09 PM on December 28, 2007

Every self respecting rock drummer needs a cowbell.
posted to Ask Metafilter by InfidelZombie at 9:35 AM on December 18, 2007

I'm not really an acoustic player, but when faced with the choice between high-end Epiphones and low-end Gibsons I've gone with the Gibsons. They just feel better constructed to me, more resonant, and have better electronics.
posted to Ask Metafilter by InfidelZombie at 9:03 AM on December 4, 2007

Next time try masturbating the day before your date, that should take some of the edge off and give you a little more control.
posted to Ask Metafilter by InfidelZombie at 3:39 PM on November 8, 2007

This may be an odd way of approaching it, but how are you at multitasking? On piano, both hands use the same motions but in opposite ways—if you play CDEFG with your right hand you start with your thumb, but if it is bass notes with your left hand you start with your pinky. I found that very hard to do. On guitar, your hands do two completely different motions that are related in order to produce a note, which somehow always seemed easier to me.

Tuning is not an issue... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by InfidelZombie at 3:48 PM on October 23, 2007

If youre willing to make a trek north, Rhino Records in Claremont is an excellent place to sell used CDs and DVDs. They also run Mad Platter records in Riverside, which would be a little closer for you. I know they buy large music collections, so you could email them a list of what you have and see if they are interested.
posted to Ask Metafilter by InfidelZombie at 10:26 AM on October 17, 2007

How much did he pay? The faded specials go for about $700 new. However, the faded series Gibsons are made to resemble old worn in guitars. If that is an actual 60's or 70's Les Paul DC it would be worth quite a bit more.
posted to Ask Metafilter by InfidelZombie at 1:19 PM on October 11, 2007

I think your answer is in your K&K Big Shot link:
This top performance, single-head piezo transducer was specially designed for instruments with low mechanical resonance. These include instruments made of relatively thick material, such as the sound board of a piano. It is considerably harder to induce vibration on these thicker materials compared to the thin top of a violin, for example.

It sounds like you need a different pickup,... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by InfidelZombie at 9:07 AM on October 5, 2007

I agree with dawdle- get you stuff out of there before the end of this month, in fact as soon as possible. Move it into a storage unit and stay with a friend or at a hotel until you can move into the new place. You're never going to get your deposit back from her, and it's very likely she'll do something to your stuff while you're away. Your sanity is worth more than one month's rent.
posted to Ask Metafilter by InfidelZombie at 10:13 AM on September 25, 2007

Tell him they are getting a divorce. If he asks why, say its because she couldn't find anyplace to live.
posted to Ask Metafilter by InfidelZombie at 9:50 AM on September 25, 2007

I have an old National guitar that was my grandmother's- steel body, 3 cone resonator, and a big old maple neck. It's a beautiful guitar, but fourcheesemac is right-- it's loud as hell. It might be hard to balance levels if you're playing with someone else on acoustic.

It has a beautiful tone though, very bright and a little harsh. Not as warm as you get from a dreadnaught. That could be the metal body. I think it would sound good on some of the stuff you've posted to Music.
posted to Ask Metafilter by InfidelZombie at 10:14 AM on August 22, 2007

Haven't listened to it in a long time so I'm sure if it fits your "fast paced" requirement, but The Residents' Commercial Album is nothing but very short, very weird songs
posted to Ask Metafilter by InfidelZombie at 1:00 PM on August 8, 2007

Lou Reed did a whole CD on New York
posted to Ask Metafilter by InfidelZombie at 8:53 AM on August 6, 2007

How long are you going to stay? For me, that's too far for a day trip, and it's going to be hotter than hell up there this time of year. That said, it is an incredile, unique place, and well worth the visit.

You have to go to Badwater, which is the lowest point in the US. There's a marker on the cliff across the road at sea level-- it's kind of hard to see because it is much higher than you expect it to be. There are turnoffs on the road to Badwater to Artist's... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by InfidelZombie at 2:48 PM on July 23, 2007

Don't assume you will have to go every week for a long time to see results. When I did cognitive-behavioral therapy for anxiety and depression it took about a year, but by the end I was only going once a month. In CBT the focus is less on talking everything through and more on excercises you do on your own time to address your issues.

Also, many therapists will work with you on deductibles. You might have better luck with a center that is not focused on low income patients.
posted to Ask Metafilter by InfidelZombie at 2:01 PM on July 6, 2007

It's hard to tell much without knowing some specifics about the pedal. Who made it, what's the model?

Assuming you have something like this, a noise gate is used to remove low level hiss and static from the signal going to the amp. A loop pedal is used to control a group of other effect pedals-- it's just like the effects loop on your amp, except it is switchable.

Klang is thinking of something like this, which is more like a mini recorder for... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by InfidelZombie at 9:34 AM on June 5, 2007

That's the one in my first link. I'm just guessing, but sensitivity and release should adjust the noise suppression aspects of the pedal, and gate should allow you to mix the clean signal in with the effects you have looped.
posted to Ask Metafilter by InfidelZombie at 10:31 AM on June 5, 2007

More detail: Sensitivity controls how much noise is pulled out of the signal. Release controls how the effect lets go of the signal as the input volume gets higher and lower, since noise is only an issue at low levels. You want to play around until you have a good tone with no noise, and no clipping of the attack or release of your notes.
posted to Ask Metafilter by InfidelZombie at 10:38 AM on June 5, 2007

Well, the first thing I did when I saw this question was check your profile to see where you might be located, but it wasn't listed. Alas, Phoenix is a little far from SoCal to make dating practical, but it couldn't hurt to make it easier for people from MeFi to contact you.

Interestingly enough, the last black-girl-dating white-boy type I was with recently moved to Phoenix to be with a guy she met on Match.com, but she's a better fit for those mainstream guys anyway. :)
posted to Ask Metafilter by InfidelZombie at 1:49 PM on June 1, 2007

For quick, I'd second 3 Day Suit Brokers. If you've got a little time to search, you might want to try the Fashion District downtown. Lots of wholesale and low dollar retail stores in that neighborhood, but you'll want to take some time to make sure you're getting decent quality for the price.

A good fit is essential for us chubby guys in a suit, more so than the cut, so spend the money on a good tailor. That's another advantage to 3 Day, they have people on site to... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by InfidelZombie at 12:40 PM on May 31, 2007

If you want to keep the drop ceiling you should call an electrician to check out the fixtures and make sure they are safe and working properly. Either that or just replace them, which may be a DIY job depending how comfortable you are with that sort of thing. You don't want to have a fire hazard.

Assuming the struts are not too tweaked and you can bend them back relatively straight with some pliers, you should be able to buy new panels at Home Depot and finish the... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by InfidelZombie at 2:21 PM on May 15, 2007

As someone who has gotten the "just good friends" talk several times in the past, this doesn't sound like one to me. Listen to tristeza-- take him at his word, and do overthink it if you can. Give things a chance to develop naturally.
posted to Ask Metafilter by InfidelZombie at 12:04 PM on May 11, 2007

Come on, "confused about what I was talking about" is pure bullshit. If he had the slightest inclination to get physical, he would have done so.

Maybe not-- he might not believe her when she says she has no expectations. He doesn't even have to think she is lying, he may just feel that because she is less experienced than him that she doesn't realize where her feelings might lead her once things become physical, and doen't want to rush... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by InfidelZombie at 12:13 PM on May 11, 2007

uh, use the opportunity, not use her.
posted to Ask Metafilter by InfidelZombie at 12:15 PM on May 11, 2007

I grew up in Walnut, just over the hill from CalPoly.

Futurehouse's recollections are still accurate. If you want a town-ish atmosphere Claremont is really the only option close by, although Upland has some of that too a bit further east.

If you go west over Temple Ave. to Grand (by Mt. San Antonio College) you come to the neighborhood I grew up in. Tract homes, but quiet and within biking distance of CalPoly. People mostly own their homes,... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by InfidelZombie at 9:16 AM on May 3, 2007

Carvin makes a variety of good quality tube amps at a decent price-- I'm very happy with my MTS-3212 combo, even more so since I switched out the original power tubes for EL34s. Marshall sound at half the price.

If you go the Epiphone route for a guitar make sure it is Korean made and not Chinese-- they moved a lot of their production around 2000 and the quality is not as good as it was.

If you can go as high as $800 for a guitar, try a Gibson... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by InfidelZombie at 10:34 AM on April 27, 2007

You can select the text and then choose "Selection" under Page Range in the Print dialogue
posted to Ask Metafilter by InfidelZombie at 3:31 PM on April 26, 2007

Take it back. That's not an acceptable flaw in a guitar you paid full price for, and it's likely you won't be happy with even a professional repair job. It will never look like a shiny new guitar again once you start messing with it.

If you end up getting a different guitar, let me suggest the Gibson Les Paul Vintage Mahogany. I just bought one a couple weeks ago-- it's only $800, it plays like a dream, and the Burstbucker Pro pickups are some of the best sounding... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by InfidelZombie at 9:16 AM on April 26, 2007

oh hell, I meant hell
posted to Ask Metafilter by InfidelZombie at 9:16 AM on April 26, 2007

Dead Kennedys- We've Got An Even Bigger Problem Now

Last call for alcohol. Last call for your freedom of speech. Drink up. Happy hour is now enforced by law. Don't forget our house special, it's called a Trickie Dickie Screwdriver. It's got one part Jack Daniels, two parts purple Kool-Aid, and a jigger of formaldehyde from the jar with Hitler's brain in it we got in the back storeroom.
posted to Ask Metafilter by InfidelZombie at 10:29 AM on April 19, 2007

They don't publish that anymore, but it is online at http://www.byofl.org/. It focuses mainly on hardcore and punk.
posted to Ask Metafilter by InfidelZombie at 3:24 PM on April 18, 2007

You might be able to get a listenable recording by putting a towel over the mic. We've had some success with this using a very old cassette recorder, but it isn't anything you'd want to share outside the band.
posted to Ask Metafilter by InfidelZombie at 10:38 AM on April 11, 2007

Great band, but I don't think they were ever big enough to play with Living Color or Warrant back then.
posted to Ask Metafilter by InfidelZombie at 3:37 PM on April 4, 2007